Phones and tablets are becoming more sophisticated by the day, which also means more like computers… and more vulnerable to the same issues as computers. Viruses and malware for mobile OS platforms like Android are increasingly common, which makes sense because people keep so much sensitive data on their phones. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps out there designed to combat this, with CM Security Lite standing out as a lightweight, speedy and free way to protect yourself.

Stay protected with a host of features

CM Security Lite is a notable phone security app because it does several things, not just antivirus, while also staying quite minimalist. Just as PC antivirus can take over somewhat, there are mobile antivirus apps which slow things down and also drain battery hugely. This is one which avoids that problem most of the time, while still offering a lot of features. Regarding antivirus, it boasts a very powerful engine, supported by 16 years in the industry. It claims to have ‘repeatedly ranked first in tests carried out by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives.’ Other features include the power to scan apps for vulnerabilities or access they shouldn’t have, plus a real-time scan of your file system just like a desktop PC. They boast a scan 500% faster than their rivals and it really is quick, completing in seconds on powerful devices.

Lock down that phone

CM Security Lite’s ability to protect you without taking over is impressive. In fact, it’s aimed to serve phones with less than 1GB memory, so it won’t drag you down in terms of speed and in addition to that, it has a tiny install footprint of 1.28MB, smaller than many built-in apps. The system scanner seems to have little to no impact on apps, though you may notice it when trying to run intensive games. The software can even scan external SD cards or scan new apps as they are installed, so clearly it has been made with real trials and problems in mind. You can tell when a program has been designed to match real people’s needs. There’s even a surprisingly small number of adverts considering that this is free, most of them being for CM’s other offerings. In terms of ease of use, the app’s clean blue color scheme, large buttons and clear icons all make things very straightforward. Anything more complex usually has some supporting information next to it.

Does the job and does it well

Though free apps are always a bit suspect and yes you will have adverts, CM Security Lite is very robust and it’s very much a professional, paid app which happens to be free, not just a very cheap app trying to get your attention. The antivirus scan appears to be very powerful according to all reports, plus the little extras like live system scanning are great for the security conscious. Parts of the settings and details may be too advanced for casual users, but you can easily just let this software run on default settings, operating in the background. If you do a lot of business on your phone, this app is certainly worth trying out.